Spain halts bomb sale to Saudi Arabia

David Ing, Madrid - Jane's Defence Weekly

04 September 2018

Spain has frozen the sale of 400 laser-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed on 4 September.

The Spanish radio station Cadena Ser first reported the decision, saying it was taken because the bombs could have been used in Yemen, where civilians have been killed in Saudi-led coalition airstrikes. It added that the bombs, which were ordered in 2015 for EUR9.2 million (USD10.7 million), had been paid for and were awaiting collection at a military base in Aragon.

An MoD spokesperson confirmed the story, but declined to comment further.

The report prompted concern about Saudi Arabia’s recent order for five large corvettes from the Spanish shipbuilder Navantia.

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